I had one of those "Made in Pakistan" daggers that had the brass guard and wood handle and a cheesy leather-like sheath with a snap closure. Dull as a butter knife, but that thing was "Cool" I think I traded some cheap metaloid handcuffs I had bought at K-Mart for them on the school bus.
I also had a "Black Dragon" or "Tiger" locking folder that had the exaggerated finger grooves on the handle with the guard cast into the top, and the clear acrylic inlays that had a skull/dragon/chinese character or something similar on it.
I, too, owned a "Survival Knife," with saw-back and cap lifter. Mine was ~$13 and had the compass screwed onto the back of the hollow handle, and included the sinker/hook/line, and a couple matches, needle and thread. It was actually a bit higher quality than others I'd see later.
Now, I did have exposure to a quality blade, and when I saw it, was in awe. A neighbor kid, who was 10 years older than me, was really into martial arts, and he showed me a Bali-song knife, and I never forgot the butterfly logo, and would always equate it with quality. Didn't actually discover the Benchmade brand until 15 years later.
